Apparatus for the manufacture of



W. J. MILLER Dec. 17, 1940.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM PLASTIC MATERIALSOriginal Filed Jan.' 26, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3w .Mw a n6 mu .2: f #3mm wo OQ 3 3 no an n ma 0 6 m $8 an nu mm u 0 on cow 0 8w lll W. J.MILLER Dec. 17, 1940.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM PLASTIC MATERIALSOriginal Filed Jan. 26, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 rgvvim'ozg: YfllllmmlMbller B 2 B 349mm,

ATTORNEY Reissues! Dec. 17, 1940 PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR THEMANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM PLASTIC MATERIALS William J. Miller,swillvlle, Pa. Original No. 2,160,484, dated May 8., 1939, Serial No.14,447, April 3, 1935, which II I lubltl tnte for abandoned applicationSerial No. 163,740,

January 26.

1027. Application for reissue September I, 1940, Serial No. 355,872

"Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of articles fromplastic materials. particularly in the art of making pottery. and itconsists in the novel features which are hereinafter more fullydescribed; it also contains subject matter disclosed in my mechanism forconveying mold carriers, which is described in my copending applicationfor patent therefor, Serial Number 14,446, filed April 3, 1935.

This application is a substitution for application 163,740, filedJanuary 26, 1927.

This invention has to do with the manufacture of semi-vitreous orvitreous clay ware, particularly such articles as plates, saucers, cups,bowls,

' etc., from plastic clay commonly known as dinnerware and heretoforemanually Jiggered on a conventional potters wheel.

The objects of my invention are, to provide a horizontal conveyor formoving mold carriers through a fabricating plant comprising feeders ofmaterial on to molds, tov form a charge thereon. for having the sameshaped into ware, preforming tools, for initially and par ly shaping thecharge, preliminary to having said charge shaped by iiggers. and one ormore Jiggers for finally shaping said charge; to provide a perfectedmechanism for automatically removing and transferring carriers from theJiggers or from a horizontal conveyor which is adjacent to the Jiggersand loading them on to an endless conveyor having thereon multiplewinding branches, to convey the carriers through suitable treatingchambers, such as dryers, etc; to provide an automatic unloading meansfor the carriers from the last mentioned conveyor; to transfer thecarriers from the last mentioned endless conveyor to a horizontalconveyor, to pass them through an apparatus for printing designs orornaments on the ware after it is dried and through various otheroperations such as smoothing. swabbing, etc.; to have the mold carriersreadily replaceable for repairs and inspection without stopping theoperation of the machine; to provide another endless conveyor forremoving the carriers after the ware has been emptied therefrom, andconvey them to the first mentioned horizontal conveyor of a fabricatingplant, to have material fed to'the molds. thereby repeating the cycle ofoperations, which has been hereinbefore described; to eliminate theguide bars, which are described in my aforesaid co-pending application;to have my mechanism for conveying mold carriers simple, durable andinexpensive.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a diagrammatic side elevation of my mechanism for conveyingmold carriers, showing an improved means for loading and unloading moldcarriers onto and of! a vertical branch of an endless conveyor. It isalso a diagrammatical view of a complete conveying system of afabricating plant in connection with the sundry tools of the same.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detail view showing the application of theloading and unloading means of my mechanism for conveying mold carriersto diagonally suspended conveying trays or pallets.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail view of another form of loading means,which forms part of my mechanism for conveying mold carriers.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side view of a detail of a modification of apart of my mechanism for conveying mold carriers, which is hereinafterdescribed.

Figure 5 is an end view of the tray or pallet which is shown in Figure4.

Figures 6 and 7 are detail views of a conveyor hook.

ii designates a power shaft, shown in Figure l as revolvably mounted ona bracket i2, extension on the frame it of the machine.

A positive cam i4 is adjustably secured to shaft I I by means of a setscrew, in contact with a roll it, pivotally connected by means of a pinit to one of a pair of oscillating arms H; the latter are adjustablysecured to a spindle i8, revolvably mounted in interchangeable openingsNa in bearings 20.

Multiple openings is are provided at the lower ends of arms l1; some ofthese openings I! are situated opposite openings i9a in bearings 2i],and serve to vary the position of spindle II with relation to arms lland bearings 20, thereby varying and adjusting the angle of oscillationof arms II.

The upper ends of arms II have each pivotally connected thereto by meansof a pin 25 an extensible latch 2i, 22, which consists of two parts; 2iand 22 adjustably connected toeach other by a screw thread 23 on part 2|and 9. corresponding threaded opening in part 22.

A stop 24 on each of said arms ll limits the drop of said latches 2i-22.

A horizontal flexible conveyor 26 is shown in Figure l as carried bydrums 21, revolvably mounted by means of spindles 28 on frame l3.

Conveyor 26 may consist of either one wide belt. provided with openingstherein, for chucks of reciprocating jiggers to pass therethrough or ofa pair of narrow belts or chains, spaced same dhtonceoputtromenehothexjortheamemnone.

J utche'ILflmaybcmplWcd trlmnlomtlonmoldcu'dma. Intern! Fig. 1 disclosesflexible members or chains, formlngnconveyoril,dlspocedlnmnllelverflcalplums and M, 36, 3|, I'I, 3|. 8|,

hooks II on and prevents the accumulation of slacklnanyonepnrtotthenmc.

ttcntlytompelthelltterwlthconveyorllmlmtoflzhtlnmdwurlmflraton 3 2 lflwfllbemovlng carlflnthedirecflonfromletttoflzhtlnl'lg.Lnndcln'lerallwfllbentrestwhenconveyorawmbelnmotlonaalaevidenxtromthednwlngs.

42 from overhauling or I snow] I. pivotnllyconncctedbyaplnlbtothebearingll otlhntt lccuredatoneendthereottobccnnglhtheotherendmnclnzmwl il, tokeepltlntwlthratchetfl.

a v hlly connectedbymcnnaot splndlealltoconvcyorutomovetherewl Thedirection of the motion of 3am flexible ngm lfcmorcmnaIlislndicatedbynrrmln Another 11mm conveyor u is cameo by drums l1,mounted on spindles 9|, pivotally connected to frame l3.

The conveyor OI intercepts camera I! from'lhetendencytoovcrrunlntheabovecuemayauobewcrcomebynddustablepreaurefilcflon brakes applied to the sprocketsof conveyor 0 to auxiliary pulleys on one of the sprocket ill or springIt, mm alsobe mad enough to cause pawl I. to act as brake on ratchet l2.

Another pair of oscillating arms 80 is pivotably connected by means of aspindle Ii in multiple interchangeable openings II in arms II tostationary bearings ll, which also have multiple openings ll therein:and arms II are actuated by means of a connecting rod 08, which consistsof two sections, adiustably connected to each other by means of aturnbuckle ll. The rod II is shown inl'ig. 1asplvotallyconnectedatoneendtoone ofthearms l'lbymeansofapinflandattheotherendtooneofthearmsllbyapin and interchangeable openings II in one orboth arms ll.

Extensible latches Ii-II are pivotally connectedto theupperendsofarms".toacton trunnions II of mold carriers as. situated on conveyor ll, tomove mold carriers through any additional tools. such as a printingapparatus Ia and a blast pipe I3, Fig. l, thereupon. to bring them, withthe trunnions 82 thereon. within reach of hooks 83, pivotally connectedto another pair of endless flexible conveyor chains 8!, carried by drumsor sprockets I00; securedtoshafts Illi.

The finished ware is removed from the molds in any suitable manner, andthecarriers 29 with the molds thereon are conveyed by conveyor chains 9!in the direction indicated by the arrows, Fig. l and deposited onto thehorizontal conveyor 28. thereby completing the cycle of operations.

The flexible conveyor chains '8 are actuated by a connecting rod ill! ofadjustable lemh. as shown, which is pivotally connected to one of arms90 by pin I" located in one of interchangeable openings in arms l0. andto a link Ill! by pin I, the strap being swivelled on one of said shaftsllli.

A pawl lill pivotally connected to link iii! intermittently engages aratchet lill, secured to shaft Ifll adjacent to strap "II. A platespring I08 maintains pawl M6 in engagement with ratchet ill. The springI may be secured to link ill and engage pawl I". A brake may be providedto prevent either overrunning or overhauling of said chains 99.

The shaft IOI with the ratchet lll'i thereon may also be actuated by anoscillating arm and cam which are each independent of arms 90 and earnit if desired thereby making the motion of said conveyor 90 independentof the horizontal motion of carriers 28 on conveyor 98.

Optionally, other means for moving conveyors l3 and 93 may be employed,and, if desired, a conveyor other than a chain conveyor employed. Thehooks Il may be replaced by other engaging members, or the shape of thehooks changed. The conveyors 83 and 8! may also be otherwise thanvertical, and the support for the carriers 29 may be otherwise thanhorizontal, if desired, also, the horizontal conveyors 2i and 06 may beomitted, and the mold carrier 2! fed to stationary tracks.

In the modifications shown in Fig. 2 hookg 53 are connected to flexiblemembers III engaged by pulleys or sprockets ill, situated in parallel toeach other and in the same horizontal plane, but not in alignment.

By these means, diagonally hung mold carriers orpalletsmaybesupportedbythechains I21 and hooks It or other connectingmeans may be B aoneway employed in connection with the chains ill in thesame way as with the chains 88 or 89.

m the modification, shown in Fig, 3, angular stlrrups m instead of hooks83 support mold carriers 2!. Trunnlons I! are also provided on thestlrrups for pivotaliy connecting the latter to chains as or 90. Thecarriers 2! may also be deposited by the 'stirrups I24 on to ahorizontal conveyor in the sam way as by hooks It In modification shownin Figs. 4 and 5, I provide a set of stirrup shaped hangers I09 tosupport the carriers 29. The hangers I" may be permanently androtatively connected to chains ll or 99 and the carriers 2! moved oflthe hangers I09 and onto conveyor 96 by one or more extensible pushblocks 0, III, Fig. 4, adjustably connected to each other by a thread H3andpivotally connected to a pair of oscillating arms "2, which mayreplace arms 90 and be placed with their bearings 02 forwardly ofconveyor 98, or to the left in Fig. 1, and be actuated by connecting rod9!, as described.

A platform I23 is provided at one end of conveyor 90 for receivingcarriers 28 from hangers I09 to pass them on to conveyor 96 as shownFig. 4. When the hangers III! are employed on chain 33, the arms I I!may then replace the arms i1 and be placed forwardly of the conveyor 26.The power shaft ii with the cam ll thereon may be journalcd as at Ill inbracket II forwardly of its position when actuating the arms i1.

Mold carrier trunnions 32 in Figs. 4 and 5, adapt the carriers 29 to asystem of conveying as shown in Fig. 4 to a system as shown in Fig. 1.

Many other changes may be made in the details of my mechanism forconveying mold carriers without departing from the main scope of myinvention.

I do not, therefore, restrict myself to the details as shown in thedrawings; but I intend to include also all mechanical equivalents andobvious modifications of the same within the scope of my invention.

The present application provides for a system of manufacture ofdinnerware from clay mass to finished ware ready for the bisque kiln.The molds, which are of the absorbent type normally used in the manualproduction of pottery ware are arranged on the carriers in side by sideand definite positioned relation, the carriers being opened andapertured in their bases to permit the elevating chucks at the feeding,forming and other stations to engage the molds on their hottoms andraise the same into co-operation with the particular instrument orinstrumentalities. Accordingly, when a carrier loaded with empty moldsis deposited on belt 26 and advanced to the extruding pug mold 81, thecarrier is halted whilst the multiple chucks 30 raise all of the moldssimultaneously for the reception of a charge of material, the transverseparallel alinement of the carriers as in the dryer, being preservedwhilst the carriers are moved through the automatic pottery warefabricating machine. In short, the installation permits of theestablishment of a number of parallel production lines extending fromthe pug through the various other fabricating and drying stations andaround to the pug, the molds circulating in repeated cycles withoutdisplacement except where required incidental to fabricating operations.

Wheresoever the term dinnerware" shall occur in the appended claims, itshall mean that class of were such as plates, cups, saucers, etc. asdistinguished from the products of the coarser clay claim:

terywaraincombinatimafabricating iblemembersineachofsaidpianeasaidrotarymembers of one plane havingtheiraxes advancedinpositionwithrelationtotherotarymembersoftheotherplaneandhookaonsaidmemberafor picking up and pivotallysuspending said trunnions,toconveysaid carricrstoadesireddestination 8.In apparatus for the manufacture of potteryware the combination whichcomprises, a dryer, a chain conveyor associated therewith, removablemold carriers each adapted to support a plurality of molds associatedwith said conveyor, aiiggci'higmachineinchidingamultipleofprofilingmeans located adjacent said conveyor. an intermittently operableconveyor amociated with said fabricating machine operable in timedrelation with the dryer conveyor, means forremovingmoldcan'iersfromsaiddryerconveyorand depositing the same on saidiiggering machine conveyor in transverse parallel alignmentwherebythemoldsenterandleavetheilgmgringmachineinparallellinesandmeansforreplaclng said,carriers with ililed molds thereon on said dryer conveyor.

4. In apparatus for the manufacture of potteryware the combination whichcomprises, a dryer,aconveyorassociatedtherewith,aiiggering machinelocated adiacent said conveyor, a plurality of trunnioned mold carriersattached to said conveyor and arranged in transverse parallel alignment,means for removing said mold carriers in consecutive order from saidconveyor. a conveyor associated with said iiggering machine forreceiving said carriers and travelling the same in transversely spacedrelation therethrough and means engageable with the trunnions of themold carriers for reconnecting said mold carriers in original transversealknment to said dryer conveyor.

5. In apparatus for the manufacture of potteryware the which comprises,a dryu, a mgerim machine associated with said dryer and a printingmachine located adjacent saiddryeaaconveyorassociatedwithsaiddryer, moldcarriers detachably associated with said conveyor, means forautomatically transferring mold carriers fromsaiddryerconvcyortosaidjigwering machineandsaidprintingmachine and mans for retransferring saidcarriers to the dryer conveyor.

d. In apparatus for the manufacture of potteryware, a pair of potterymachines located in spaced relation comprising a fabricating macases-montobothmachine's,amoldconveyorinsaid dryer common to said machines,drive mechanism for operating the conveyor of both said machines andsaid dryer conveyor in timed relation and a mold carrier remo saidconveyors for therebetween. e

I. In apparatus forthe manufacture of potteryware, the combination whichcomprises, a dryer, an endless conveyor operating therein, a pluralityof mold carriers attached to said conveyor. a printing machine locatedadjacent said conveyor, a horizontal conveyor associated with saidprinting machine and adapted to receive the carriers supported by saiddryer conveyor, said carriers being adapted to be passed through saidmachine by said horizontal conveyor and means for operating saidhorizontal conveyor and said dr'yer conveyor in timed relation.

8. In apparatus for the manufacture of potly associated with all ofporting molds and ware teryware, a dryer, a mold conveyor operating Itherein, carriers detachably associated with said conveyor, a werefabricating machine, a conveyor associated with said ware fabricatingmachine and having one end thereof so disposed as to intercept thecarriers associated with said dryer conveyor, means for actuating saidconveyor associated with said fabricating machine to travel detachedcarriers away from said dryer conveyor and into said fabricatingmachine, said carriers being subsequently reattached to said dryerconveyor subsequent to travel through said fabricating machine.

9. Apparatus for the manufacture of potteryware comprising, incombination, a pottery fabricating machine and a pottery printingmachine, a dryer having a chain conveyor for molds, means fortransferring empty molds from said printing machine to said fabricatingmachine, conveying means for travelling molds through said fabricatingmachine operable in the loading of molds ontosaid chain conveyor,conveying means for travelling molds through said printing machineoperable in the unloading of moldsfrom said chain conveyor, mechanismfor driving each of said conveying means and means associated with saidmechanism for varying the travel of said conveying means.

10. In apparatus for the manufacture of Jiggered potteryware, incombination, a fabricating machine provided withmeans for fabricatingmore thanonepiece ofwareata time, adryer having a chain conveyor thereinarranged in vertical courses with mold bearing trays supported betweenthe chains of said conveyor, means for removing molds, a tray load at atime, from the chain conveyor in the dryer takeout position, a conveyorassociated with said fabricating machine adapted to receive the saidmolds and convey the same' to the fabricating machine and means forloading filled molds, a tray load at a time, onto the dryer conveyor.

11. In apparatus for the manufacture of potteryware, a dryer having achain conveyor for molds, a fabricating machine located at the moldentrance end of the dryer, a prlntingmachine with conveying meanslocated at the ware takecut end of said dryer, means for loading warefrom the dryer onto the said printing machine, conveying means,intermittently operable means for loading empty molds onto thefabricating machine and means for loading molds onto the dryer conveyor.

12. In apparatus for the manufacture of potteryware, the combinationwhich comprises, an automatic Jigger capable of forming diverse orsimilar articles of potteryware in multiple from plastic ceramicmaterial, a dryer for extracting moisture from the ware thus producedsaid dryer having a ware conveyor associated therewith for transportingsaid articles of ware therethrollgh to an unloading point. a conveyorlocated adjacent the unloading point for transporting ware therefrom,and mechanism for applying ornament to said ware associated with saidlast named conveyor, the ware being swabbed and smoothed after it leavesthe dryer. V

13. In apparatus for the manufacture of potteryware, the combinationwhich comprises, a multiple line automatic .iiggering machine forforming articles of potteryware in multiple and in diverse or similarshapes and forms, a dryer for extracting moisture from the ware thusproduced, a conveyor for transporting ware from the iigger through thedryer in spaced line of production to an emptying point, a conveyingmechanism disposed adjacent the unloading point for transporting linesof ware therefrom, and

mechanism for applying designs or ornament to the ware associated withsaid last named conveying mechanism, the ware being swabbed and smoothedafter said ware leaves the dryer.

14. In apparatus for the manufacture of potteryware, the combinationwhich comprises, an automatic jigger, a dryer, a conveyor fortransporting ware from the Jigger to and through the dryer and to anunloading point, a conveyor adjacent the unloading point fortransporting ware therefrom, and mechanism for applying designs orornament to said ware associated with said last named conveyor, andmeans for operating said dryer conveyor and said last named conveyor intimed relation.

15. In apparatus for the manufacture of potteryware, the combinationwhich comprises, an automatic iigger for forming articles of potterywarefrom ceramic material, a dryer for extract-' ing moisture from the warethus produced having a ware conveyor associated therewith fortransporting were from the iigger to and through the dryer to anunloading point, said iigger and said dryer conveyor being synchronouslyoperated, a conveyor located adjacent the ware unloading point fortransporting ware therefrom means automatically operable to unload warefrom the dryerconveyorandplacethesameuponthesecond named conveyor. forapplying designorornamenttothewareassociatedwith said second namedconveyor and operable to apply designs or ornament to the waretransported thereon. the ware being swabbed and smoothed after leavingthe dryer.

16. In apparatus for the manufacture of potteryware, the combinationwhich comprises, an automatic iigger. a dryer for extracting moisturefrom the ware produced by said iigger said dryer having a ware conveyorassociated therewith for transporting articles of ware therethrough andto an unloading point, means for transporting ware thereaway from andmechanism for applying ornament to the ware associated therewith theware being swabbed and smoothed subsequent to leaving the dryer.

1?. In apparatus for the manufacture of potteryware. the combinationwhich comprises, means for automatically fabricating potteryware inspaced lines of production, a dryer associated therewith through whichsaid ware is progressed in the original lines of production in order tomature the ware and apparatus through which the ware travels subsequentto drying in one or more production lines, said apparatus including oneor more means for applying ornament to the ware in one or moreproduction lines.

18. In the manufacture of dinnerware, the method which consists in,advancing one or more lines of molds in repeated closed cycles through afalu'icating machine and dryer and automatically fabricating and dryingware on said molds and thereafter progressing said dried ware through anornamenting unit and, applying ornament thereto said ware remaining inthe original lines of production.

19. In apparatus for the manufacture of potteryware, the combinationwhich comprises, means for automatically fabricating potteryware inspaced lines of production, a dryer associated therewith through whichsaid ware is progressed in the original lines of production in order tomature said ware. and printing apparatus through which the ware isconveyed subuquent to drying, the ware pieces being presented thereto inconsecutive order in a production line.

W'IIIIAMLMILLER.

